Two unsuspecting women got a nasty surprise when they were pranked by their local salon - believing their hair had caught fire and was falling out in clumps.

What Salon in Cork, Ireland got into the Halloween spirit by hiring two actors to fool their customers into thinking a treatment had gone horribly wrong - with the elaborate ruse captured on video.

The women, who had gone to the hairdressers for updos, were told they were having a brand new 'Scandinasian' product applied, a fusion from Scandinavia and Asia.

Two unsuspecting women got a nasty surprise when they were pranked by What Salon in Cork, Ireland

Victim two reacts with shock when she notices smoke drifting from the other woman's head

At the beginning of the video hairdresser Naomi speaks to the camera and introduces herself.

She said: 'Today we're going to play a prank so while our innocent victim is getting her hair set she's going to notice that our actress there is smoking.

'We're going to clip this incense stick into her hair so it looks like it's actually on fire. And then when the girl starts to freak out we're going to take it up a notch and her hair is actually going to fall out.'

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'We've got secret cameras around the salon so we're going to catch all the moments and it should be a bit of fun.'

The video then shows the first customer - or victim one, as a caption informs the viewer - taking a seat in the salon. The first actress is already in position with a towel wrapped around her head and a robe over her shoulders.

Victim one reacts with horror when she is confronted with the hair extensions - which she believes are clumps of her own hair

The Brazilian woman clasps her hands to her mouth in distress as stylist James apologises over and over

The unsuspecting women, who is Brazilian, reveals it is her first time at the salon as she is offered a tea or coffee.

Moments later her stylist - the second actor - makes an appearance.

'Hi I'm James, I'm going to be your stylist today,' he tells her.

'Little fun fact, it's actually my first day, but don't worry I have all the qualifications,' he adds, as she giggles along nervously.

James then proceeds to tell her all about the brand new Scandinasian product, promising 'you're going to love it.'

However the actress, who we are led to believe has already had the treatment applied, quickly interrupts.

The second victim who doesn't waste any time asking. In a panic she grabs the shower head out of James' hands, desperate to wash away the product

Moments later a woman rushes in with a microphone to tell them: 'It's okay, it's a prank. Don't worry, your hair isn't really falling out. They are extensions,' she says. Victim two is visibly relieved

'James it just feels a bit tingly in the last five minutes,' she says.

'Don't worry, that's just the mint,' James reassures her.

Unperturbed, the unsuspecting customer goes ahead with the treatment. Only when she returns from the basin with her hair wrapped in a towel, the other woman is visibly agitated.

Another member of staff pretends to check her hair and stealthily attaches the burning stick of incense.

'It's getting really hot now,' the actress says, as smoke begins to drift up, seemingly from under the towel.

The customer looks shocked and gasps: 'I think I can see smoke in your hair.'

The salon hired two actors - one to play a customer (right) and the other to play hapless stylist James (centre)

At that the actress screams loudly, yelling for the stylist: 'James take it off, it's really painful.'

He apologises over and over as he rushes her to the sinks. Meanwhile it quickly dawns on the victim that she could suffer the same fate.

'Have I had the same treatment?' she asks nervously.

In a panic, she demands that it's rinsed off immediately. The video then cuts to the second victim who doesn't waste any time asking.

In a panic she grabs the shower head out of James' hands, desperate to wash away the product.

Meanwhile the actress's hair appears to be falling out as James grabs handfuls of her dark locks from the sink.

'My hair is coming out!' the actress shrieks.

The video alternates between the two victims. They both turn to the basin, where they are confronted with handfuls of what they believe to be their own tresses.

The placed hidden cameras around the salon to capture the unsuspecting victims' reactions and have a 'bit of fun'. Here the actress's hair starts to smoke thanks to a hidden stick of incense

The women, who had gone to the hairdressers for updos, were told they were having a brand new 'Scandinasian' product applied, a fusion product from Scandinavia and Asia

'I'm so sorry,' James says, as they scream in horror, absolutely distraught. They are seen with their hands over their mouths in total shock.

Thy are still screaming as they grab their hair over and over, seemingly to check they are not completely bald.

Moments later a woman rushes in with a microphone to tell them: 'It's okay, it's a prank. Don't worry, your hair isn't really falling out. They are extensions,' she says, pointing to the clumps of hair.

'Oh my God,' victim one says, clasping her hands to her mouth in relief.

'Really?' victim two pleads, still visibly shaken.

After getting over the shock, the two women laugh and are applauded by the actors and staff for taking the joke so well.

The actor playing the stylist was James Kavanagh, who is popular on the social network Snapchat.

A comment under the video calls the prank 'brilliant' but others have suggested that the salon may have gone too far.